Ludicrous Prices

AndyW said:

Your £10 sounds a bargain - pretty, large specimens are keenly priced!

Click to expand...

TheManWithNoName said:

Many of the mineral shows I attend feature sellers who do their own mining. For example, one of my regular go-to sellers, Bulgaria Minerals, mine their own specimens, genuinely cutting out the middleman (and reducing costs to us customers).

Much different to Gemporia's version of "cutting out the middleman," who claim to do just that - but in their next breath, tell us that the three Amigos are heading to trade shows such as Tucson or Hong Kong to purchase from other traders - which is akin to me buying my eggs from Tesco, but telling people I brought them direct from the farm............

Click to expand...

TheManWithNoName said:

Many of the mineral shows I attend feature sellers who do their own mining. For example, one of my regular go-to sellers, Bulgaria Minerals, mine their own specimens, genuinely cutting out the middleman (and reducing costs to us customers).

Much different to Gemporia's version of "cutting out the middleman," who claim to do just that - but in their next breath, tell us that the three Amigos are heading to trade shows such as Tucson or Hong Kong to purchase from other traders - which is akin to me buying my eggs from Tesco, but telling people I brought them direct from the farm............

Click to expand...

SnowMoon said:

Gemporia are currently bunging out a South Sea Mother of Pearl bangle (mosaic style) for £249. However, you can go to WalMart and pick this very similar item up for $26.99. Granted I don't know if it is South Sea MOP or not, but I very much doubt anyone seeing one, or the other, on the wrist would know either. https://www.walmart.com/ip/AeraVida...y-Gifts-for-Women/760930413?classType=REGULAR

gemporia's offering. https://www.gemporia.com/en-gb/product/south-sea-mother-of-pearl-bangle-id-66.5mm/odtl28/

Click to expand...

Ostrichkeeper said:

I just turned on my tv to see the end of the bracelet auction and was waiting for the price to drop but it didn’t. I can’t believe that anyone would pay such an inflated price for something easily found elsewhere for way less. It’s just pieces of shell glued to the surface, hardly worth the amount they’re selling it at. And as you said SnowMoon nobody would know where it came from and I doubt anyone would be interested lol.

Click to expand...

AndyW said:

Which would you rather have?

A modern resin-filled, moulded, heated and glued bangle for £250 or a Victorian card case, still in great condition and could easily be used today as a credit card case, for around £70 (images attached)?

Click to expand...